Golden Eagle CHIEF N68N

Summary

On 3 September 2017 at about 21:15 local time, a Golden Eagle CHIEF registered N68N was involved in an accident near Mt. Zion, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 September 2017 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Mt. Zion, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

39.7442, -88.9194

Aircraft

Golden Eagle CHIEF

Registration

N68N

Category

Airplane

Year built

1929

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Macomb → Mattoon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17LA338

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot and passenger were conducting a cross-country flight in the experimental, amateur-built airplane. While in cruise flight about 1 hour after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power and the pilot performed a forced landing in a bean field. The airplane nosed over after touchdown, crushing the top of the rudder. The pilot told Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that, before moving the airplane to its hangar following the accident, he drained the fuel tanks because he did not want fuel leaking on the hangar floor. He reported that he drained 13 gallons; this could not be confirmed by the FAA inspectors. A cursory examination of the engine established drive train continuity when the propeller was turned by hand; however, based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.